Netanyahu Vows to Rebuild Coalition With Ben-Gvir, Who Accuses PM of Breaking Promise
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to form a coalition with Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich after the next elections, aiming for a "broad national government." Ben-Gvir countered, claiming "verified information" that Netanyahu's office promised EU countries he would not be included in the next government. Netanyahu dismissed international criticism and characterized protests against right-wing violence as propaganda. He also stated that the upcoming election outcome is uncertain, with the political blocs currently tied.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to form a coalition with Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich after the elections.
- Itamar Ben-Gvir claims Netanyahu's office promised EU countries he would not be in the next government.
- Netanyahu dismissed international criticism of potential coalition partners as propaganda.
- Netanyahu stated the upcoming election outcome is uncertain, with political blocs currently tied.
- The Likud party called Ben-Gvir's claims "false political spins and friendly fire."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Sunday his intention to form a coalition with Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich after the upcoming elections, aiming for a "broad national government." Netanyahu explicitly confirmed his plan to base the coalition on the alliance with Ben-Gvir, saying, "Unequivocally. There is no doubt we will form the same coalition. We worked well together, also with Smotrich." However, he indicated a desire to retain the Defense and National Security ministries for the Likud party if election results permit.
Conversely, Ben-Gvir claimed to have "verified information" that the Prime Minister's Office had "officially committed to a number of European Union countries" that he would not be part of the next government. "I say the following with deep sorrow, after a long period hearing such reports," Ben-Gvir stated, adding that a "clear message was conveyed to those countries, whether to foreign ministers or a level above, that the Prime Minister does not intend to include me in the next government." He also accused Likud of trying to reduce Otzma Yehudit's support to five Knesset seats.
Netanyahu dismissed concerns that a renewed alliance with Ben-Gvir would intensify international criticism, instead criticizing "boycotts of democratically elected representatives in the State of Israel, while they do not lift a finger against representatives of the Palestinian Authority who incite to our destruction or heads of state who call for Israel's annihilation." He characterized global protests against violence by right-wing activists in the West Bank as "great exaggeration" and "a propaganda attack."
Netanyahu is currently campaigning to prevent parties led by Ofer Vinter and Yoaz Hendel from crossing the electoral threshold. He told reporters that the political blocs are currently tied, with the election outcome hinging on a "razor's edge," or a single seat here or there. He contrasted this reality with optimistic polls seen on television channels like Channel 14.
The Likud party responded to Ben-Gvir's remarks by calling them "false political spins and friendly fire." The party asserted that the Prime Minister had clarified that any government would include the current coalition partners, and any "Zionist party" would be invited to join based on their "founding principles and the current composition."
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